Half of the “Near Airport” League of Legends roster failed to attend a critical game review meeting following their recent playoff defeat to a college team. The meeting, designed to address performance issues before upcoming elimination matches, was attended by only three starting players—including mid laner Pobelter—both substitutes, and the coaching staff.
Notably absent were star AD carry, Doublelift, as well as top laner TFBlade. Doublelift was spotted at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas with his girlfriend Leena Xu, as confirmed by social media posts. TFBlade had traveled to a countryside retreat in Canada, a trip he had apparently announced on his stream beforehand.
The timing of these absences has definitely got some people on the team talking. The meeting was specifically scheduled to help the squad recover from what many considered a shocking upset loss to a college team in the upper bracket of playoffs.
With elimination matches approaching in just a few days, the team has to quickly address the issues that led to their defeat. “Near Airport” competes in the North American tier 2 competition, where they maintain hopes for potential promotion to the highest level of play. The team features a mix of veteran talent and streamers, with players balancing competitive obligations alongside content creation careers.
For Pobelter, who attended the review session, the absences show how tough it can be for teams made up of players with a lot going on outside of competition. As a former LCS champion himself, Pobelter has kept his competitive edge even after focusing more on content creation in recent years.
The missed meeting is another example of how hard it is for squads in the tier 2 scene. While tournaments at this level give teams a shot at climbing the ranks, they often feature rosters full of streamers and former pros trying to balance their time between streaming, personal plans, and training.
